§ Mr. CROOKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the suffering caused in Woolwich, owing to the removal of the torpedo factory to Greenock, by the discharge of all the men who are unable to move to Greenock, and of the fact that the only chance of giving these men employment depends upon the amount of work allocated by the Admiralty to the ordnance factories in the coming financial year, he will guarantee to place such orders with the factories as will enable the men now thrown on the streets to be offered employment?
§ Mr. McKENNANo men have been discharged who have not been given the option of transfer to Greenock, except those who were entered on a purely temporary engagement since last June. Every endeavour is being made to give preferential treatment in finding Government employment for those men who have770W claims through length of service under the Crown. It would not be practicable to adjust the orders for ordnance work required for the Navy in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked whether the Admiralty have bought or feued any land at Greenock for housing the men working at the new torpedo factory; if so, what price was paid and for how many acres; and, if not, has the local authority bought land and put up houses for a similar purpose?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. With regard to the last part the local authority has not, so far as the Admiralty are aware, bought any land for this purpose, but the Scottish Garden Suburb Company have acquired certain land at Gourock, about half a mile west of the torpedo factory, and are erecting workmen's cottages. A certain number of these cottages are being built in accordance with plans approved by the Admiralty.